Digital BW, The Print

Greetings from Namibia, where every day is sunny and some are very much
hooter then the rest

 

I am considering buying an Epson 4800 next month when I am in the states.  I
currently have a 220 on my desk; I would like some thoughts on what to do.
Sell the 2200 and print both color and BO on the 4800 or use the 4800 for
color (sorry this is likely heresy) and convert the 2200 to BO. Bear in mind
that I live on the back side of the middle of nowhere. Service is a problem
unless you know how to fix it yourself.  I can always organize inks out of
the states or Europe.

 

If you think I should convert the 2200 to BO can you please recommend an ink
set and why you like them?  I am not considering a CIS system, too much
trouble here in one of the world's driest places.

 

Thanks

 

Christopher L. Johnston

Johnston-Namibia c.c.

PO Box 354

Omaruru Namibia

chris@...

 

 

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Chris, I have been using the 4800 since August, and it is a wonderful printer. Using the 
Epson K3 inkset you can make wonderful black and white prints using the Epson driver. 
See Clayton Jones' website for a good suggestion about workflow. My own paper 
suggestion is Epson Premium Semi matte. This uses the Photo Black ink that comes with 
the new 4800. It is not a cotton rag paper, which is probably what you are used to from 
your BO work. The 4800 also makes beautiful monochrome prints (again using the full K3 
inkset but with the Matte Black ink). Try Epson Velvet Fine Art paper. My own suggestion is 
to dedicate the 2200 to color work, since it prints color as well as the 4800. The main 
changes in the Epson driver for the 4800 compared with the 2200 are in the Advanced 
Black and White (ABW) feature. This setup makes truely stunning black and white prints (no 
RIP required). In an earlier post, I summarized various issues and choices facing those of 
us doing monochrome work in the new 2400/4800 age. See post 68695  in this forum. I 
also posted some suggestions for ABW settings for Premium Semi Matte in post 70088. 
Finally, in post 70654, I included instructions for 4800 settings that enable the printer to 
print on small sheets of paper. This is great for making test prints, and saves a great deal 
of money. A good proofing paper for Premium Semi Matte is a paper called Kirkland 
Professional Glossy (see post 70168). It is cheap and quite good. Sold through COSTCO 
stores in the US. Maybe it's available on their website. (Use the Epson Premium Glossy 
setting in the printer as a proxy).

I did some photography last year down in the Zebra River Canyon area in Namibia. 
Beautiful, but tough light! Good luck with your 4800 adventure.
Richard